The stress of Stroop performance: physiological and emotional responses to color–word interference, task pacing, and pacing speed

Abstract

Heart rate, frequency of skin conductance responses, and self-reported anxiety were measured during performance of a computer version of the Stroop Color–Word Interference Test, and during a non-conflicting control task involving the color naming of color patches. Stroop and control stimuli were presented individually in order to vary task pacing. Subjects ( N=48) were divided into three groups assigned to self-paced, externally-paced, and fast externally-paced conditions. Performance data revealed that the relative proportion of speed and accuracy reductions which resulted from the Stroop interference varied according to task pacing and pacing speed. Stroop performance was accompanied by heightened HR levels which were sustained throughout the series. State–Anxiety scores increased after both tasks, but only among subjects who completed a large number of trials, i.e. subjects in the self-paced and fast externally-paced groups. Skin conductance responses only varied according to task order and time within series, irrespective of Stroop interference or task pacing. Overall, the results remained in accordance with an effort account of the relationship between attention and cardiac activity. They also provided indications on how the Stroop test may act as an efficient laboratory stressor. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.